BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) — The United Nations Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization’s (UNESCO) World Heritage Committee adopted a resolution on Tuesday reaffirming the international body’s non-recognition of Israeli sovereignty in occupied East Jerusalem, and condemning Israeli policies in the Old City, sparking reactions from both Palestinian and Israeli officials.

Ten member states voted in favor of the resolution, three against, while eight states abstained.

The resolution referred to Israel as an “occupying power” in East Jerusalem, and stated that UNESCO “regrets the failure of the Israeli occupying authorities to cease the persistent excavations, tunneling, works, projects and other illegal practices in East Jerusalem, particularly in and around the Old City of Jerusalem, which are illegal under international law.”

The resolution, unlike one in October 2016, did not mention specifically the issue of the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound.

Israeli Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon condemned the resolution as “disgraceful.”(...)